Human Ecology Research

The Korean Home Economics Association (대한가정학회)
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Changes in Family Life and Relationships during the COVID-19 Pandemic and their Associations with Perceived Stress

코로나19 확산에 따른 가족생활 및 가족관계의 변화와 스트레스

  • Chin, Meejung (Department of Child Development & Family Studies, Research Institute of Human Ecology, Seoul National University) ;
  • Sung, Miai (Division of Human Ecology, Korea National Open University) ;
  • Son, Seohee (Department of Family & Resource Management, Sookmyung Women's University) ;
  • Yoo, Jaeeon (Department of Social Welfare, Gachon University) ;
  • Lee, Jaerim (Department of Child Development & Family Studies, Research Institute of Human Ecology, Seoul National University) ;
  • Chang, Young Eun (School of Social Welfare, Chung-Ang University)
  • 진미정 (서울대학교 아동가족학과 및 생활과학연구소) ;
  • 성미애 (한국방송통신대학교 생활과학부) ;
  • 손서희 (숙명여자대학교 가족자원경영학과) ;
  • 유재언 (가천대학교 사회복지학과) ;
  • 이재림 (서울대학교 아동가족학과 및 생활과학연구소) ;
  • 장영은 (중앙대학교 사회복지학부)
  • Received : 2020.06.26
  • Accepted : 2020.07.27
  • Published : 2020.08.30
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Abstract

This study explores how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed family life and relationships as well as how these changes affect perceived stress among married men and women. This study investigated changes in family time use, household work, child care, leisure activities, income and expenditures along with relationships between spouses and children using a sample of 627 married persons surveyed online from May 19 to 25, 2020. The results showed that the amount of time spent on household work, child care, and family leisure have increased and that the perceived burden of household work and child care has also increased. Gender differences were found in time use, household work, and child care. Leisure activities have changed toward more time watching TV or online media and playing online games and less time on outdoor activities, shopping, and meeting friends. About 38% of respondents reported a reduction in household income and 22% reported an increase in household debt. The majority experienced no change in the quality of relationships with spouses and children, approximately 20% of the sample reported a positive change in relationships with spouses and children. The findings of multivariate regression indicated that change in work time, negative change in household economy, negative change in household work and negative change in relationships with spouses were associated with marital stress. However, this study found that negative changes in child care and in relationships with children did not affect stress among married parents with children in elementary or secondary school.

Keywords

References

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